AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Surprised?” Gunsyn’s chilling words come through the speaker. “The Lanzzare guards are dead, Zakhar. Now, I’m coming for you.”
The call ends abruptly, and my heart pounds against my rib cage like a trapped animal.
“We’re out of time,” Zakhar says, shaking slightly. “I’ve let you down, Eden.”
32
EDEN
The ringtone makesme jump in the still safe house.
As the call connects, I focus on Nikolai and try to draw strength from him. But my hands tremble, and I can’t help but feel guilt gnawing at me.
“Put it on FaceTime.” Alexander’s voice is devoid of emotion.
Nikolai swipes his finger across the screen. His expression is focused, and his jaw is set as he mentally prepares for whatever he will see. Nikolai presses his lips into a thin line, indicating the image is worse than I had anticipated.
“Eden,” Dad says quietly, “be ready for anything.”
My pulse quickens, and blood pounds in my ears as I brace myself for whatever may be on the screen. I know it will be Mercy. Holding myself tight, I have to look and face it head-on. I had many chances to insist that Nikolai let her go. I could have spoken up and insisted Nikolai bring Mercy with us to the bar.
My daughter would’ve also been safe under my protection. You should know that, my niece.
But my only concern was me, and I foolishly believed Mercy would be safe in the penthouse. Was I ever safe? Nikolai assured me I was protected, but that was so different. Mercy was my responsibility, and this is my burden to bear. It’s as much my fault as if I had shoved Mercy into the van.
“Eden,” Nikolai whispers before Alexander’s face appears on the screen. “We’ll get her back.” His words are meant to reassure me, but now I know this is going to be worse than I imagined.
An image jumps on the screen, and a gasp comes out of my open mouth before I can stop it. It’s not Alexander. The phone is on Mercy, who is bruised, battered, and bound to a chair. The gray cell is poorly lit, but I can see enough. The top of her swimsuit is missing, and she tries to cover herself with one hand while the other is bound to the chair. Bruises cover too much of her skin. A gag in her mouth muffles weak sobs of protest. Her pretty face is marred by the evidence of Alexander’s brutality. She stares at the phone and then Alexander before she lowers her head and looks away. Her eyes are swollen and bloodshot from crying.
I’ve never seen Mercy cry before, and that upsets me the most.
What have I done? I swallow hard. It’s too late for me to show remorse, and it won’t help Mercy. I have to toughen up and be the strong one if she’s going to survive this hell.
“Like what you see?” Alexander taunts as he grabs Mercy’s chin and makes her look at the phone.
“This isn’t about her, Alexander,” Nikolai speaks calmly. “Besides, the Lanzzare know who is responsible. I didn’t give you an order to do this.”
Alexander lets Mercy’s chin go, and she folds in on herself with a whimper.
“You should have,” he snarls. “The opportunity was there, but you stopped thinking with your head after you had your dick sucked.” A nasty grin curls on his lips. “So you’ve finally joined the other side, Kolya. You’ve bedded one, and now you are one.”
I look down at my hands, hoping my father won’t react, and when I glance at him, his attention is on the phone. I hate myself for being a coward who has gotten everyone I love and care about into this hellish mess so I can have what I want.
“Let her go,” Nikolai hisses. “And maybe I’ll deal with you instead of tossing you to the Lanzzare.”
Alexander shakes his head as he stares at the phone. “I’ve found someone willing to pay handsomely to own a Lanzzare. He has his own fantasies of revenge. Don’t worry, he won’t kill her. She’ll be treated well as long as she learns to obey.”
I can’t take anymore and snatch the phone out of Nikolai’s hand. “You’re the traitor, not my father!” I scream. “You’re the one who should be hunted down, and you will be if you hurt my cousin.”
Zakhar grabs me and the phone. His look warns me to keep quiet, but I may have already said too much.
Alexander peers into the phone. “I do miss family reunions,” he laughs coldly. “Zakhar, do you really think you can convince the Bratva you’re innocent when you’ve been hiding like a coward? Only a guilty man runs.”
“Then why don’t you tell me where you’re hiding, youmudak?” Zakhar scoffs when Alexander doesn’t reply. “Your actions aren’t those of a sane man. You’ll have more to deal with when I find you than threatening women.”
“She reminds me of someone else,” replies Alexander. “It must be the red hair. Do you see the resemblance?”
“You sick fuck!” shouts Zakhar. “I will tear you to pieces with my teeth when I find you.And I will find you.” Zakhar calms his voice. “The girl doesn’t deserve this.”
